November 8, 2025 • The Artist
The Colorful World of Clemens Briels & Antipodism
How a Dutch artist created an entirely personal visual universe, and why collectors worldwide continue to seek his work.
Who is Clemens Briels?
Clemens Briels was born in 1946 in the Netherlands. Over the course of his career, he developed a highly distinctive visual language that sets him apart from any movement or school. His work is immediately recognizable: vibrant, optimistic, full of movement and human warmth.
His international recognition is extensive. In 2002, he became the first Dutch artist ever selected as an official Olympic Artist for the Winter Games in Salt Lake City, a unique honor for a visual artist. His works hang in the collections of KLM, Philips, ABN AMRO, and Ford, and he has exhibited on five continents.
What is Antipodism?
Antipodism is the artistic philosophy that Briels himself developed. The word refers to antipodes, meaning opposites. In his work, he consistently balances two contrasting forces:
- Color versus silence
- Humor versus seriousness
- The individual versus the crowd
- Movement versus stillness
- Warmth versus restraint
These tensions are never hostile, they coexist in a single composition, creating a dynamic balance that feels both playful and profound. It is this quality that makes Briels' work accessible to a wide audience while remaining intellectually layered.
Why does his work endure?
The best art ages well because it speaks to something timeless. Briels' figures, stylized, expressive and often slightly larger than life, depict universal human moments: conversation, celebration, solitude, connection. The viewer does not need art historical knowledge to feel the energy of his compositions.
At the same time, the technical execution is demanding. His screenprints, for instance, require dozens of separate color layers. His 3D wall objects push the boundary between painting and sculpture. The originality is not decorative, it is structural.
Available works by Clemens Briels
Kunstlounge offers a carefully selected private collection of original works by Clemens Briels, including unique original paintings, limited-edition screenprints (some fully sold out at all galleries), and rare 3D wall objects. Each work comes with a Certificate of Authenticity personally signed by Clemens Briels.